The New Family Transition Guide is a tool for parents, family members, and supporters of soon-to-be Catamounts to prepare for the transition to and the first six weeks of the academic semester.
Both students and their families have a lot to think about when preparing for and beginning the college experience. Our transition guide is here to help facilitate important conversations, encourage skill-building, and share applicable resources from UVM and beyond.
Areas of Interest
Academics
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Questions to Ask your Student:
- What are your academic expectations of yourself?
- How do you think the rigor of classes will challenge you?
- What's your relationship to procrastination?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- How are you feeling about your student's academic preparation? What support do you anticipate them needing?
- How do you expect to respond to your student's first failing grade?
- Are you prepared to let your student make mistakes and/or fail? What might that feel like?
- How are you prepared for a student with changing beliefs other than your own?
Skills to Develop
- Build self-awareness around productivity and study habits
Resources to Help
Adulting and Transitions
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Questions to Ask your Student:
- How are you preparing for this new experience?
- What do you think it will be like living on your own?
- How can you navigate change or loneliness?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- What are two things you need for the transition go to smoothly?
- What's your goodbye plan?
- How might life be
- different after you drop them off?
Skills to Develop
- Setting up doctor's appointments
- How to do their own laundry
- How to ask for help or clarity
- How to clean their room and shared spaces
- Create a personal hygiene schedule
- Make a practice of reading their emails and clearing out inboxes
Resources to Help
Communicating with Home
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Questions to Ask your Student:
- What are you comfortable sharing with me?
- How often to you want to connect over text, phone, over email?
- What are the expectations?
- How can I help you advocate for yourself without undermining your autonomy and independence?
- If we share locations, are you comfortable with me checking up on you?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- How often do you want to hear from your student? How often do you expect to hear from them?
- Have you experienced "emotional dump" calls from your student? What are some strategies to help both you and your student get through those difficult moments?
- How might you use breaks during the semester to check in with your student?
Skills to Build for You and Your Student
- Develop a plan for connecting with family each week
- Understand when and how your student wants/needs you to get involved in their UVM life
- Develop boundaries around sharing locations
Finances
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Questions to Ask Your Student
- What are your family expectations around banking and budgeting?
- What are your thoughts around getting a job on campus?
- What do you spend your money on the most?
- How will you communicate with me about financial challenges?
Skills to Develop
- Learn what banks are available in the Burlington area
- Have your student set up a personal checking account
- Learn how to write out a check and locate bank routing/account numbers
- Build a basic budget for dining, expenses, and fun
- Remember: Pace yourself with the available resources!
Food and Nutrition
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Questions to Ask Your Student
- What are your distinct food needs? How can you meet them?
- What are the meals or foods you will miss from home?
- How will you make sure you have enough to eat?
- If you are sick, how will you access food on campus
- If you have food allergies/intolerances, what are your options?
Skills to Build
- Review the dining options on campus and in the Burlington area
- Build a schedule around classes for eating
- Review food help resources on and off campus
- Allergies or need accommodations? Review the Nutrition page
- Learn how to order on our app to save time
Additional Resources
- Cultural Resource Guide (with an "Eat" tab for local favorites)
- Sick Meal Authorizaton form
- Severe food allergies? Apply for Simple Zone CATcard access
- Interested in local foods? Keep a look out for the Vermont First logo or talk to a Dining employee!
Healthy Relationships and Consent
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Questions to Ask your Student:
- How do you set boundaries?
- What does consent look like?
- What makes a healthy relationship?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
What do you need to be prepared to discuss
healthy sexual and romantic relationships with your
student if they come to you for support?
Skills to Build
- Complete the Vector learning module on Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates (Beginning June 26)
Resources to Help
Getting Involved and Making Friends
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Questions to Ask Your Student
- What activities are you interested in outside of the classroom?
- What kind of friendships do you want?
- What makes a supportive friend?
- What types of experiences do you want to have during your first year? Why those?
Skills to Build
Living on Campus
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Questions to Ask Your Student
- What makes a good neighbor?
- How do you like to manage conflicts?
- What kind of a relationship do you need out of a roommate?
- If you experience any roommate or housing challenges, what supports do you have?
Skills to Build
- Attend the New Student Insight Session on Living in Community
- Learn how to request housing accommodations
- Learn about gender-inclusive housing
- What's your mailing address? View the mail guide for residential students
Social Media
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Questions to Ask your Student:
- How do you feel when you use social media?
- How do you curate what or how much you watch?
- What kinds of content do you want your families to see from your account(s)?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- Is social media a tool you use to check in with your student or surveil them?
- How might your student's social media behavior change while in college? And, how might that change impact you?
- What will it be like for you to hear less from your student?
Skills to Build
- Unfollow social media accounts that make you feel anxious, self-conscious, or deflated
- Limit scrolling to 30 minutes
Self Care
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Questions to Ask Your Student
- What time of day are you most centered? Productive? Disconnected?
- What are some of the ways you decompress?
- What practices would you like to build on to feel your best?
- How do you like to move your body?
- How much sleep do you need to feel your best?
- Are there spiritual practices you would like to continue or build on in college?
Skills to Develop
- Build a general plan for decompressing and stress management
- Add movement to your daily schedule
- Determine a plan for personal care that may include hair care, mental health and primary care, and more that will help your student feel their most authentic selves.
Campus Resources
- Center for Health and Well-being
- Cultural Resource Guide
- Living Well Studio
- Campus Recreation
- Interfaith Center
Substance Use
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Questions to Ask Your Student
- What is your perception of substance use in college?
- What ways can you stay safe in spaces where alchohol is provided?
- What is your relationship to tobacco, cannabis, or other substances?
Communicate clear expectations about the use of alcohol, marijuana, and other substances. You are critical to their success. Help them understand that participating in high-risk activities detracts them from the ability to take full advantage of their college experience. Also, be thoughtful in sharing your own experiences of days past. Stories leave a lasting impression with your student. Revisit this conversation during their first semester, listening to their experiences and providing your own wisdom.
Skills to Build
- Complete the Vector learning module on substance use